Is Michael Clarke the best young talent in world cricket?

[Beny]

Originally Posted by cricinfo

Is Michael Clarke the best young talent in world cricket?

Originally Posted by cricinfo

No 11.4% (140 votes) Yes 88.6% (1083 votes)

Dont want to sound like some English bloke talking up a 3rd rate spinner as if he were Warne. But what do you think? Is their anybody else 23 or under who might be better?

[vvvrulz]

Well he certainly rates right up there among the best newcomers. There are a few others under 23 who also have a big future also, some include Irfan Pathan, Dwayne Bravo, Yuvraj Singh. None of them burst onto the scene quite the way Clarke did though.

[Beny]

Certinly I rate Pathan as a future superstar. Bowlers need to mature though. I think we will see the best of him in years to come.

[Zainub]

First and of all, I'd agree Clarke right now, is by some distance, the best young cricketer in the world.

On Irfan Pathan, no disrespect, I too think he has fantastic potential, his greatest asset being the ability to move the ball both ways of the pitch and in the air, and a good attitude which strives consistently on learning from his mistakes. But let's be fair, his record up till now has been less then flattering, although admitedly at times he's bowled a lot better than that, but with a test average of over 40 with the ball I'm not convinced why there should be a comparision with Wasim Akram. There was a good article in cricket info recently in which we were reminded of how Akram at a similar stage in his career (i.e. after 7 tests) had impressed much more (he averaged about 23 I guess, not sure, but the jist here is that Pathan's good, not great).

Clarke on the other hand, has so far in just a matter of 4 tests notched up half a thousand runs at an average of over 60, including a ton on his first home and away match. By far this is the best introduction to test cricket we have seen any young player in the past decade have. Already he's gotton two man of the match awards, and nearly missed out on the man of the series award in India where he scored over 400 runs and took 6-9 in Mumbai in what remained his debut series. If this guys doesn't end up scoring 6 to 7000 test runs, I'm not sure who will.

Other young players of good potential would be Pakistan's Shoaib Malik, who I guess is still 23. I also like the look of India's new wicket keeper Dinesh Karthick, and West Indies' Dwayne Bravo, who was one of the few people who impressed on his country's tour to England. From SA, this new boy De Byrun (sorry if I have spelled it wrong) scored 83 vs India in India on debut...so that's a good start as well, and perhaps someone to watch out for. The one person though no one will mention is Zimbabwe's opening batsman Brendon Taylor, I followed the under 19 world cup in Bangladesh recently, and he did well there. After the rebel players were sacked, he got a chance in the senior side, and got back to back 50s against Australia, and also a century in a tour match in Pakistan against a team that was stacked with Pakistani fringe and/or future test prospects. Interestingly, he picked up a wicket with his first ball in ODI cricket (I think it was Damein Martyn) and that beleive it or not was his frist delivery bowled ever, previously he'd never bowled in either first class cricket or club cricket. He's also a good fielder, and one of the few people I think of the soo many young faces in the Zimbabwe side,that I beleive has some real measure of potential.

[Chuck Palumbo]

May I put my nomination forward- Ian Bell.

His 70 on debut oozed class against a suprisingly hostile WI attack on a bouncy Oval track and he also got hit on the arm when on 0. He has also had the season of his life in the County Championship scoring well over 1,500 runs and is also dynamite in the field as well as being able to bowl decent medium pacers.

This guy is England's future No.3 and it was a disgrace that he wasn't picked for the Saffers tour.

[Ernest]

Is Michael Clarke the best young talent in world cricket?

It is hard to say yet, he had made a couple of 100s, but not against aggresive attacks, he must be a decent player of spin bowling though.
Same with Bell, he seems a decent player, but like Clarke, he needs some games under his belt.
Pathan looks like he is going to make a decent player, time will tell for these 3 players, but the omens are good.

Ern

[Zainub]

Perhaps you're being hard on David Graveny and co by saying their decesion to drop Bell was "harsh" , I would say it was unfortunate, but inevitable, much like Katich recently getting droped in favor of Lehman, they had to chose between him and a very experienced, proven England performer Mark Butcher (who remained injuired for much of the series against WI) - the choice they made was logical, they went for experience and rewarded Butcher for his past consistencies, Bell was unlucky, but those things happen, as you say, he's the future, so shouldn't be a big deal made of out it.

[Chuck Palumbo]

I have always liked Butcher but he has hardly played since the 3rd test against NZ in June while Bell has scored stacks of runs for Warwickshire and impressed all with his brave and classy 70 on debut. Add on that Butcher hasn't scored a test 100 for about 2 years and I reckon the decision to take Butcher instead of Bell was wrong but both are unlikely to play anyway as Rob Key is the man in possession of the No.3 position at the moment.

[Zainub]

I like Rob Key he's nice, and chubby, I like seeing him bat.

[Ernest]

I like Rob key as well, I banged my drum enough for him, but Zainub, not because he is chubby


Ern

PS interesting latin signiture you have, "always faithfull"